Leaf-spring.



l. F. OCONNOR.

LEAF SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED 001.22.1914.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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LEAF SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.22.1914.

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t 2 el um N Jam @maf l By de f /x ATTORNEY l vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR T WILLIAM H. MINER, OF CHAZY, NEW YORK.

LEAF-SPRING.

Application filed October 22, 1914.

- To f/IZZ whom z't maj/ con/cram Be it known that I. .lons F. OCoxxon, a citizen of the Vnited States. residing at Chis cago. in the county of ("ook and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Leaf-Springs, of which the followingl is a full. clear, concise, and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specilieation.

My invention relates to improvements in leaf springs.

rThe object of in v invention is to provide a friction leaf spring for vehicles.

c In the drawingsl forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 a side elevation of a portion of a frame of a vehicle with a friction leaf spring attached, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan yiew thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 to S inclusive illustrate a modification, Fig. 5 being a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle frame, with the friction leaf spring attached, embodying my invention in its modified forms. Fig. G is a plan view. Fig. 7 a cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line SWS of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, and first to the preferred embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive thereA of, the numeral 9 indicates a portion of a vehicle frame having the brackets 10-10 suitably spaced apart secured thereto, preferably by the bolts 11-11, passing through said frame and the flanges 12-12 of the said brackets. Intermediate the flanges, the brackets 10%10 are each provided with the outwardly projecting flanges 1313, each having a transverse opening 14 therethrough to receive the ends ofa plurality of leaf springs 15-15. The leaf springs 15-15 are preferably flat plates of substantially the same dimensions, a plurality of which I will at times hereinafter refer to for convenience as a leaf spring. The leaf spring at its ends is received within the r'ipenings 14 in the brackets 13, the said openings in each of the brackets being in rneferable construction closed on their outer faces by the preferably integral walls 1G--1G. l/Vithin the recess thus formed in each of the brackets is mounted an adiustablf block 17. between Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

serial No. 867,946.

which and the opposite wall 18 of the bracket the leaf spring 15 is received. Back of the adjustable block 17 is mounted a short spring 19, which is engaged against by the inner end 2() of a set screw 21. screw 21 is provided'with a lock nut 22. Intermediate its ends the leaf spring is provided with a band 23 surrounding the same and securely holding the leaves thereof together. The band on its face adjacent the vehicle frame, is received within a vertical groove 24 formed between the two upright projecting` flanges 25-25 with which the bracket 26 is provided. The bracket 2,6 is secured to the frame 9 of the vehicle by suitable nieans, preferably the rivets 27-27. Downtnrned U-bolts 28-28, or other similar suitable means, are employed to secure the leaf spring intermediate its ends to the axle 29 ofthe vehicle. A rigid connection to the axle and a secure fastening together of the leaves 15 15 of the spring at substantially their longitudinal center is desirable. The leaf spring illustrated in the drawings is composed of straight leaves, which' are preferred, though other shapes may be employed. The action of the springs is the same in either direction of movement of the frame of the vehicle in reference to the axle. The leavesl 15w-15 are on' relative movement of the vehicle frame and the axle, in Sliding frictional engagement with each other between the central band and thel ends of the leaves at either side thereof. The amount of this friction can be changed by adjustment of the block 17 through the set screws 21. The band 23 slides in the groove 24 of the intermediate bracket and is adapted with The set the other parts of the device to resist longitudinal shocks.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive of the drawings', the numeral 40 indicates part of a vehicle frame having spaced apart brackets 41-41 secured thereto and an intermediate bracket 42. The end brackets 41 are provided with longitudinal openings 43 to receive the ends of a leaf spring 44, consisting of a plurality of preferably flat plates 45-45. Each of the plates is provided at one end with a suitable opening 46 to receive a pin 47 pass-v ing through the side walls 48-48 of the bracket and adapted to secure an end of each loop 45 in the said bracket. The series nl: springs 43h45 are thns seein-ed alternateli' su that npnn the application if prefi- .snre tu the series iiterinediate ,its ends, the springs are in lrietinnal engagement with each nthei"tliinngfliniit their length. 'The iiiei'inediatiy bracket l2 is provided with :i rei'tif'al f fnide lll npr-rating in :i vertical f -rnnre 5H in a spi-ing' band Til which .snrreinn'ls the spi-ings VlF'l-U intermediate their ends. the ,spring band beineA prnrided preleiabli' with perl'ni'ated llanges 5'.) and having iertieal bulls fil pas -ntf theretlnfiig'fh and thi-'nigh the llane'es nl the axle 5f tu seein-e the pi'iny's thereto. ,\n adinetinjL bleek il' is innnnted within the band `and abnre the lsprings YI3. the .saine being,r engaged ln' a spring 5T. piel'ei'abli' nt' a slini't elliptical design. the lsaid hlm-k and the, pressiii'e lieienl' iipnii thespiiiieslfikli being' zi ljn lnble b ineans nl rlie set screw 45%enflaeiiigi the .spring` Lillie sa id set screw being pi'miied with a lurking' init 52). ln this einbniliinenl nl in) invention. the leaves el.' the springr :ire ear-h seein-ed at (nie end and the ainniinl nl' fiietinn between theni iipnn llexing' van be regulated within the central band in the inannei hereinbel'nrt` described.

It will be apparent that the i'eenil of the springr ina \v be regulated as is desired and reduced tn a ininininni: that the lise nl' links and sn ingingv enniieelinns between the body nl' a reliirle and the i'iinninj; f fear is arnided; that 'lune'ii inlinal iinnerient ofthe l'i'aine, in Teli-relire in the axle is prevented. :iiid that tliinnel. the wim-(pieni, rediietinn of the i'elali\e verliral aelinn between the riiiining iai-ar and the bud)Y nl' a -\ehi ,le. the ease nl' riding' is \ei4\ lL'i'eaili' increased. lt is -ilsn apparent lhai :ill the leaws ni' plates inl' the l'rirtinn leal .springr ina)v be 0f (ilicsaine length, and duplicates, if desired; so that read)y i: ,Jairs can be made,

l. In a vehicle. the confibination with a traine and axle, of lnackets attached to one of said nieinbers, a plurality of plates forming a leaf aprilie?. said brackets inelosing said spring' and one et the brackets being provided with ineans te regulate the. frictinn between the plates forming said Spring.

2. In a Vehicle, the combination with a fi'aine and axle. of brackets attached to one et' raid inenbers, a plurality of plates forining a leaf spriiifr. said brackets inelcsirig said 'ip 'lng and one of the brackets beiner prm'idei with a nim'able adjustment block tn ref fiilate the friction between the plates.

il. ln :i vehicle. the c `iinl`=fnatinn with a j'i-aine and axle. nt' brackets attached to one nt' said iiieinbers. a pliiralit)v7 nt' plates `forniin;r a leal spring. said brackets inclosing .said spi-ing' and one (it the brackets being provided with an adjustment block and a .set .screw te regulate the pressure of the ndjiistnient blnck npon said plates and adjust the Jf'i'ietinnal ene'aeeinent between Said platen.

4. In a rehiele. the ei'iinbination with a traine and axle. et braekets attached t0 one nt' said ineinbei's. a plurality of platesfnrniinaY a lea t' spring. said brackets inclosing aaid spi-ingr and nne et' the brackets being provided with a nnn'able adjusting' block engaging Vsaid plates. a set screw and a spi-ineV interposed between the set screw and said bleek. the .said bleek being adapted to regnlate the t'rirtinn between Said plates.

J( )l l l". (YCONNQR. vitiiessesz (nnnic (l. ll.\4\'x7 lii'i'iiiiic llinnixs. 

